Is Amari Cooper the Missing Piece for the Buffalo Bills Offense?

The Buffalo Bills secured Amari Cooper in a trade with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, enhancing their roster with a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver for their star quarterback, Josh Allen. In this transaction, the Bills obtained Cooper along with a sixth-round draft pick in 2025, in exchange for a third-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round selection in 2026. At 30 years of age, Cooper addresses the gap left by the departure of Stefon Diggs, who was traded to the Houston Texans prior to the start of the season.

Fewest completions per game targeting WR

Only three qualifying quarterbacks are averaging fewer completions per game when targeting wide receivers than Josh Allen this season. It's also the lowest mark for Allen through six games of a season since 2018, his rookie year.

QB	COMPLETIONS PER GAME
Jacoby Brissett	7.2
Will Levis	7.4
Justin Fields	7.8
Josh Allen	8.5

The Bills (4-2) finalized their trade just hours after their AFC East competitors, the New York Jets, executed a significant transaction by acquiring wide receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. In recent weeks, the Browns had received several offers for Cooper, who is in the concluding year of a five-year contract initially signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Cleveland's decision to convert a substantial portion of Cooper's $20 million base salary into a signing bonus enhanced his appeal as a trade prospect. Despite achieving a career-high of 1,250 receiving yards in 2023, Cooper has faced challenges alongside a Browns offense that has not managed to score 20 points in any of its first six games. He currently leads Cleveland (1-5) with 250 receiving yards and two touchdowns, yet his average of 4.7 yards per target ranks among the lowest in the NFL for qualifying receivers. Additionally, his three dropped passes are tied for the sixth highest in the league. "Move or rust," Cooper remarked on his Instagram story. "We appreciate Amari's hard work, professionalism, and contributions on the field during his time with us," stated Browns general manager Andrew Berry. "He provided many memorable moments and was a key player in our 2023 playoff team. We wish him success in Buffalo as he advances his NFL career." The addition of Cooper offers the Bills substantial and necessary reinforcement at the receiver position. In the absence of Diggs, the team adopted a strategy of involving multiple players in the offense, yet the receivers have frequently struggled to create separation downfield, particularly in the last three games. The Bills' wide receivers rank 25th or lower in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and first downs. "First and foremost, we have confidence in the receivers currently in our roster," remarked Bills coach Sean McDermott. "We will assess Amari's arrival and determine how to integrate him into our system and processes. It is never solely about one individual. We are grateful to have him on board, but it is about the collective effort."